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Accomplishments - 1985-1998

1998

GLAAD launches its "Save Ellen" letter-writing campaign aimed at keeping the historic show on the air. While Ellen is eventually cancelled, GLAAD mobilizes massive community support for the program.

GLAAD denounces the remarks of Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.), who calls homosexuality a "sin" and likens gay people to alcoholics, sex addicts and kleptomaniacs. GLAAD creates and distributes a compendium of responses from 35 progressive organizations, providing a key resource to journalists and community members.

As anti-gay extremists launch a series of newspaper and television ads encouraging "conversion" of lesbians and gay men, GLAAD joins a broad-based coalition of LGBT and allied organizations, family advocates, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals in denouncing the ads' fraudulent, politically motivated claims. GLAAD also co-sponsors counter-ads calling on Americans to accept and embrace -- not reject or attempt to "cure" -- their gay and lesbian family members.

When Matthew Shepard's brutal murder shocks the nation, GLAAD sends staff to Wyoming to help manage media coverage and assist in organizing student and community press conferences. GLAAD helps organize a massive vigil in Washington, D.C. remembering Shepard and pushing for passage of strong hate crimes legislation. GLAAD links the continuing presence of violence to increased activity by religious political extremist organizations -- activity which creates a permissive attitude toward hatred and intolerance.

GLAAD Executive Director Joan M. Garry and other LGBT community leaders meet with U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno to discuss the need for protections from discrimination.

In its 1998-1999 Where We Are on TV scoreboard, GLAAD praises the inclusion of four LGBT characters of color to the networks' fall lineup, as well as the premiere of NBC's Will & Grace.

The WB Network airs a re-edited version of a Wayans Bros. episode after GLAAD meets with producers to discuss the original episode's homophobic content.

GLAAD meets with Newsweek editors and staff to discuss the news magazine's problematic coverage of the ad campaign that ran throughout July and August

GLAAD and Showtime Networks, Inc. team up to hold special screenings and premieres of Armistead Maupin's More Tales of the City in seven cities across the country.

GLAAD Executive Director Joan M. Garry speaks about Internet filtering software and the overall impact of the Internet on the LGBT community at Harvard University's conference on Internet-related issues.

During its Salute to Gay Pride Month, the Sundance Channel airs a series of promotional spots which GLAAD scripted and co-produced with the cable network.

GLAAD holds directed media trainings for clergy, couples and friends and relatives of LGBT people in San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. The trainings, in anticipation of forthcoming decisions regarding the freedom to marry, are designed to develop a strong base of effective spokespersons.

1997

After a six-month, GLAAD-led "Let Ellen Out" campaign, ABC announces that the title character on Ellen will come out as a lesbian on April 30, marking the first time in history that a lead television character is lesbian or gay.

GLAAD coordinates "Come Out With Ellen" house parties in more than 1,500 households nationwide. GLAAD signature parties in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, MO and San Francisco bring together more than 4,000 people and the Ellen cast to watch the event live.

Birmingham Pride Alabama, with GLAAD's support, organizes a live telecast of the historic Ellen episode viewed by 3,000 after the local ABC affiliate refuses to air the show.

GLAAD launches successful campaign to support the Walt Disney Company during the Southern Baptists' boycott of the company for its inclusion and fair treatment of lesbians and gay men.

GLAAD supports the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, helping to coordinate press conferences that inform the media about how to handle the coverage of the death of Gianni Versace and the actions of Andrew Cunanan in a manner respectful of the lesbian and gay community.

GLAAD meets with producer Jerry Bruckheimer to discuss the negative representation of gay men in his films The Rock and Con Air.

Dismayed to learn that the upcoming movie The Jackal was to feature the extremely violent murder of a gay man, and that test screening audiences were cheering his death, GLAAD meets with Universal Studios representatives to discuss their concerns. As a result, the director re-edits the film to put the act in context before the film's release.

GLAAD takes a leading role in the Public Relations Working Group of the National Freedom to Marry Coalition.

GLAAD releases the comprehensive and groundbreaking report Access Denied, which details the impact of Internet filtering software on the lesbian and gay community, at the Focus on Children: Internet Summit in Washington, DC.

1996

CBS-TV fires Ben Wright, one of its sport commentators, after GLAAD protests his sexist and homophobic remarks about two male golfers.

CompuServe reinstates 200 newsgroups, many of which were lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, after GLAAD criticizes the company for unfair access restrictions.

The Partnership for a Drug Free America pulls homophobic public service announcement after GLAAD protests the PSA's anti-gay message.

T.J. Maxx pulls an advertisement featuring a stereotypical gay fashion designer after GLAAD protests the company's perpetuation of hackneyed gay stereotypes. Both T.J. Maxx and its advertising company issue apologies.

GLAAD works with Comedy Central to stop the airing of the anti-gay 1982 movie Partners.

1986

1985

more publications

On November 12 - 20, individuals and organizations around the county will participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people, and address the issues these communities face. The final day of Transgender Awareness Week is the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. You can read more about Transgender Awareness Week and the Transgender Day of remembrance below, and find out how you can participate.

The creation of the Where We Are on TV report in 2005 allows GLAAD to track trends and compile statistics for series regular characters on broadcast television with regard to sexual orientation, gender identity and race/ethnicity for the upcoming season. GLAAD measures the presence of LGBT characters and the visibility of the community they portray on television in upcoming scripted primetime programs; both new and returning shows. This marks the 17th year GLAAD has tracked the number of LGBT characters expected to appear in the new fall television season on both broadcast and ca

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About GLAAD

GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBT acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love.more about GLAAD >>